America’s pastime will meet America’s music on a very special episode of Top 20 Country Countdown, premiering Friday, October 11 at 8/7c on Great American Country. Scotty McCreery, a former high school baseball pitcher, will co-host the show with Nan Kelley, celebrating baseball’s postseason. Taped at the MLB Network’s famed Studio 42 in Secaucus, N.J., the episode will feature MLB Network analysts and former major leaguers Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams and Kevin Millar.

“Co-hosting Top 20 Countdown is always fun,” Scotty said. “But getting to do it from Studio 42 was incredible. If you’re a fan of baseball like I am, it’s a really cool place to hang out. I watch both the MLB Network and Great American Country all the time, so working with both teams on this episode was a blast.”

“Few things capture the American spirit as much as America’s pastime,” Suzanne Gordon, vice president, programming for Great American Country, said. “The revamped Great American Country is a network that celebrates the American way of life. Partnering with the MLB Network during the post-season is the perfect way to celebrate collectively with the nation and to get in the game, so to speak!”

The special episode of Top 20 will feature in-studio segments between the music video countdown. Segments include Scotty pitching with Mitch Williams and an in-studio game with all four personalities.

“We’re used to hanging out with Major Leaguers inside Studio 42, but as a country music fan, it was awesome to have Scotty, Nan and the Great American Country team come to our studios, especially right in the thick of the 2013 Postseason,” Mitch Williams said. “Scotty’s got a cutter pitch with some movement on it, and we’d have him back to MLB Network’s studios any time.”

“This is a tremendous partnership opportunity,” Jennifer Leitman, senior vice president, marketing and creative services at Great American Country, said. “We are proud to feature the MLB Network’s talent and studio as part of Top 20 Countdown, because it resonates with Great American Country viewers. And having the network helping create awareness about our special episode is exciting and brings additional, valuable exposure to Scotty McCreery and all the artists featured in this Friday’s episode. It’s a win-win!”

The MLB Network’s Studio 42 is named for Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson and is a replica baseball field featuring a one-third scale infield made of turf and an actual pitcher’s mound. The studio also includes stadium lights, dugouts, and a replica outfield wall complete with padding, brick designs and an out-of-town scoreboard which is updated in real time.

Scotty recently wrapped a six-city Major League Baseball park tour. He will release his new album, See You Tonight, on October 15. His music video for the album’s title track is currently at No. 1 on Top 20.

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